Working at home offers many opportunities to create your ideal work environment. Investing in your dream workspace is a no brainer. With no corporate rules to abide by, why not setup a killer workspace? A central part of this is your desk. Here's how I got started standing... I hope it helps you get started too!

To sit or to stand?

My Current Setup

I noticed after years of full time sitting while working long days, that I just felt lethargic and tired after work. I'd have to go home and take a nap before I could hit the gym or otherwise continue my evening affairs.

After just a few days of standing, I noticed significant improvement in my energy levels. I'm not claiming there's science to back this up, but sitting all day seems to sap my mental and physical energy levels.

Step 1: Hack a standup desk

At first, I took my desk and stacked books and boxes until my keyboard, mouse and monitors were at a level to allow for standing. The first few days, my legs were sore, but that quickly faded. However, I noticed that standing ALL day was physically exhausting...

Step 2: Try a stool

So, I found a stool that allowed me to alternate between sitting and standing. If you get a stool, make sure you measure the height you'll need, many stools are way too short, be wary of stools under 30 inches. Over the years, I've found it's ideal to try to stand most of the day and use a stool or chair for breaks.

These were some of my favorite stools, except the base breaks down after a few years of heavy use :(

Being height adjustable, I could get the perfect height when I wanted to take a break from standing. They are light and slide out of the way easily when you want to stand.

Step 3: Your feet will thank you... get a great mat to stand on

After a few days of standing I felt like I was killing my feet. I already wear inserts to support my duck like flat feet, but standing on cement, even with carpet, will do a number on your body. I've settled on this mat as my favorite:

You can easily slide or throw it out of the way when you want to sit down

You can wipe up spills with a rag

Lots of sizes and colors

Step 4: Wear shoes when standing

It's tempting, especially when working at home, to just walk around in socks or barefoot. I really feel like I get the best support when I'm wearing shoes AND standing on my mat. If you have inserts for medical reasons, wear those too, oh and if you don't, maybe try some off the shelf supports too.

When you do take a break, kick off the shoes and let your feet breathe!

Step 5: Invest in a height adjustable desk

Although a stool is nice for a break, when I sit, I want to relax. So, I sought a desk to allow me to do both without compromise! Also, I wanted a desk to facilitate alternating sitting and standing without more than a few seconds interruption. Meet GeekDesk.

Recommendations

Invest in the large model so you have plenty of workspace, it's less than $50 difference.

I've seen many people advocate for a simple hack. If you only have a monitor and keyboard stand, you won't have room for paperwork, laptops, peripherals, inboxes and most importantly, your cup of coffee!

Think about what you do with a desk now, would you really be able to give up all that space simply because you are standing?

Get the programmable heights feature - GeekDesk Max, you can click a preset height, step back (or get a cup of coffee) and let the desk do the work.

If you get the manual adjustment, every time you want to change positions, you'll have to hold the button and remember the height you want and wait as the desk adjusts. As a result of this hassle, you will change positions less often, which will actually be counter productive to the benefits of alternating positions.

The desk requires some assembly, no more than 2 hours.

Be patient for its arrival, it took several months for mine to arrive, but believe me it's worth the wait! Check their estimated wait times.

When you need to get to the back of your computer, just pop the desk up and it's a breeze to get back there!

Get long enough wires

Any wire that runs from the desk to your computer needs to be long enough to support sitting and standing heights. When purchasing new peripherals, consider this, many wires are only about a meter long. I'd say 6 feet is a minimum, 8 is probably preferable, especially if you want the wire to run to the back of the desk, and reach down and over to wherever you place your computer.

A block to stand on

When standing, it's comfortable to alternate one foot on a block to take the weight off of it. A cinder block works great, and if that looks tacky, a sturdy, small safe works great too!

Step 7: The monitors

Sometimes you'll want your monitors at slightly different positions. I don't adjust this every time I change from sitting to standing, but when the situation calls for it, I like to quickly move the monitors. A fixed height monitor is just a bad idea for any desk setup, it will do a number on your neck and posture. I absolutely love the following monitor arms:

Step 8: Location, location, location

Remember you have complete freedom to setup your workspace wherever you want! If you don't like dark dreary places, don't put your desk in a closed off location. I like to put mine next to the window, it's like having that window office the execs get :)

Find the most inspirational place in your home that you can dedicate to your workspace. The location of a home office while you worked in a real office isn't likely the same place you'll want a full time remote work setup. Your needs have changed, consider them!

Stools versus Chairs

Once you have a height adjustable desk, the need for a stool will fade if you already have a great office chair. I'd recommend putting the money towards a better desk in the first place.

Why this matters?

There are many unique challenges to remote work. Creating the ideal workspace is a way to get excited about working at home and to help overcome some of the other challenges.